• To focus public attention on critical challenges facing children in our community.

• To foster discussion among leaders and the general public.

• To build on existing community initiatives and lead people to action.

We explained that we had invited a group of 20 (now 22) community leaders to help us with the project for a simple reason: While the newspaper can shine a light, it lacks the ability to act.

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We asked the Advisory Committee to educate us and offer us advice as we researched key issues facing children. We asked it to work with us to explore alternatives and solutions, including potential policy changes and ways to address funding issues.

We believed the committee could help us engage all of the organizations and individuals with a stake in the future of our children — and also to engage all of you.

But, we also noted that the group had no authority to do anything. (That has in part led to the announcement on today’s front page of efforts to form a legitimate coalition to develop a comprehensive plan of action.)

And, from the outset, we did not promise anything to the Advisory Committee other than to listen. Our reporters and editors have made all of the final decisions about what topics to cover, how to cover them and what to publish. Likewise, our Editorial Board has retained control over the opinions stated in “Our Voice” on these pages.

Finally, all of our committee discussions are “on the record,” and we have reported on each meeting of the committee to let all of you know what the group is saying — and proposing to do.

It has put the committee, as well as the News-Leader, in an unusual position.

But these are unusual circumstances.

As corporate and individual citizens, the News-Leader and its leaders are obligated to help this community move forward, to serve the greater good by addressing the critical issues facing our children.